Fuel-injector for internal-combustion engines.



APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14. 1913.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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FUEL INJECTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED FEB.14. 1913.

1 1 QQJWQO Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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UNITED S ATES FATE FFKQ.

smon LAKE, or mrnroan, oomrnc rrou'r.

I runn-Imnoron'ron inrnimancomnusrlon .ENGINES.,

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Application filed February 14,, 1918; Serial No. 748,499.

an efficient fuel injector for internal combustion engines, by which heavy oil s may be more thoroughly mixed, atomized and vaporized, and by which the pressure for driving the fuel into the combustion chambersof high compression. engines may be more economically produced and more economically used than is possible with other fuel injectors now in user I It is well known that natural and refined oils contain substances that are not consumed except at exceedingly high temperatures, and that an internal combustion engine designed to run on gasolene or naphtha, ior instance, will not; burn kerosene or the heavier products of the refinery after the lighter oils have been distilled. In high compression engineswherein the air is first highly compressed and the fuel injected into the highly compressed and heated air, it-is the practice to inject the fuelinto the'cylinder by means of highly compressed air;

The injection of the highly compiejssed air along with the fuel tends to cool maimed fuel, since the air is allowedto expandahd,

the compr'ession'consequently lowered upon entering the cylinder-or combustion chamber. It'also requires considerable "power to furnish this highly compressed air Which consumes part of the, working power of the engine and thus reduces its eificiency. a

:With' my improved injector I heat the fuel and airv to nearly the temperature of the combustion chamber. before admitting themv into the said chamber,'and I useonly a small uantity of air in comparison to other devices now in use. I ,also' secure a more. thorough atomization of the fuel oil, andmix the same with superheated steam generated in the atomizer, and utilize the steam to drive, the fuel into the combustion chamberwherein the steam is decomposed and burned with the mixture of air and.

fuel oil so that the hydrogen contained in the steam will, in itself, furnish a fuel. I alsoprovide an injector by which I may'in;

troduce either a gas, a lighter and more a regulated quantity of air along with the combination of superheated steam and heavy oil soas to produce an easily ignitible ure.

- The inventioncon'sists in the peculiar and I novel construction, combination and ar rangernent ofparts .as will be hereinafter fully adescribed. and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, illustfating the inven= tion, in theseveralfigures of. which like parts are-similarly designated Figure l is a side eleyation of thein'jector attached to the head of -a. cfyl ind er of an internal cornbustion engine, only a portionof the'he'ad being shown and-that portibn in "section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section drawn on a. larger scale on thelineA-A. oi"- Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa horizontal section-drawn on the line B.B of Fig. 2. ,Fig. 4: is evertical sectional elevation bf .tliecasin injector drawn on the line. (F -Coi Fig. 5 is a plan viewof the plu' the lower end of the casing an Fig. 3. for closing the. admission of the fuel into the combustion chamber. Fig. Bis a horizontal section drawn on the line DD of Fig. 2. Fig. 7

vides' a valve seat for the valve icontrolling is. a horizontal section drawn on the line E-Fl of Fig. 2. .Fig. 8 is a'plan view of one of the disks arranged in the mixing chamber ofthe injector, and Fig. 9.is"a sectional .yiew of-said. disk. v The body or casing preferably cylindrica- "isformed at'its upper end, with-"a; flange head 1 by which the injector is seemed to the cylinder head. Theb'ody of the casing is formed with a central boreof difi'erent diameters extending entirely, through its length and 3 largest [at the lower-end of the casing, thus providing a chamher 2, ,.Fig.' 4, which is snlosed at its lower end by a plug 3 ncmwed into the lower. end of the casing. 'lPhe plug 3 is fokrm e'dwith a central tone-shape ex tension iiproviding a valve-seat for a hollow waive 5 which controls. outlet ports or jpas- 'sageslfi'formed in and adjacent to the apex "-lPatented Dec. I

of the which proof the injector is V in cross-sectionand easily'ignitible oil along with the main sup ply of heavy oil, or by which I may admit roe toe

of the cone-shape valve seat 4, which ports I open into-a central outletport or passage 6"extendi ng.through the plug and opening 31ochamber of the engine.

' Thelower end of the passage 6" is enlarged and threaded to receive a plug ,7 which has *a contracted outlet above WhlCh is a small jmixing chamber in the plugfor the purpose; y'hereinafter appearing.

h ho ow. valve 5. extends up through vthebore of the casing 1 and hasa contracted 'dischargeopening 5' at is lower end into which fitsthe apex of the cone-shape valve seat 1-; Thedischarge opening 5' is controlled byan'eedle-valve 8 extending down through the valve 5; The upper end of the valve 5 extends through a stuflingbo'x fformed in the upper end of the casing 1, and

a through a gland 9 screwed intothe stuflingbox and has its extreme upper end threaded to receive a head 10 through which the stem of; the needle-valve 8 passes. ,The stem of the'valve 8 is formed with a threadedsew tio'nwhich works H]. a threaded section 11 the head 10, so that the point of the said valve may be adjusted toward or away from 'thef out-let 57 to thereby regulate the flow valvelfo'r med. with an air 'inlet 11 which commu- 'nicateswith the bore of the valve 5, and is connected by a pipe 11 with a suitable 'sourcefof; compressed. air supply (not shown or with a gas'tank (not shown), or with a-source 'of easily inflammable material jas-desired. a Y

. 'The valve 5 is normally held to its seat. by an expansion spring 12 interposed between an enlargement formed on the lower end of the head 10'and a collar 13 surroundin the head adjacent to its upper end, said co lar being-supported'by studslalaextending v. the said chamber at a higher leverthan the upwardlyfrom'the head l'l fo'f the injector, and the said valve 5 is lifted from its seat ner bythe crank-shaft of the engine, which -engages anti-friction rollersflfi carried at "(the ends oia eress-head or arm 16 secured tothe upperfend of the head 10. As 'sh0wnthe eross=arm formed with a centrally dependingthreaded nipple which screws into I the upper'e'nd' of the head lOandserves also v to hold a gland 17 in" the stufling' box formed in "the head'through which the said stem of the needle-valve passes to this prevent leakage of the compressed airor gas through the upper end of thehead that is let into the bore of the valve 5. As is also shownthe stem of theneedlevalve 8 passes through the cross-arm 16. It is obvious by this construction that. as the outer end of the lever 15 is raised the valve 5-will'be lifted from its seat and that the needle-valve 8 will al Ways be maintained in the position with re spect to the outlet 5 to which it has been adjusted.

Inthechambejr 2 of, casing is a cylindrical sleeve 18 whose upper end is tightly I held a contracted extension of the chamber 2 "and whose lower end is tightly held in an annular groove 19 .'formed in theupper face of the plug 3, the uppe'r endpf said sleevebeing formed with an inwardl extendingflangethrough which the stem'i'bf the'valvez'i passes. This sleeve divides the chamber 2 into a fuel mixinglchamber-20, surrounding-the lower end of the valve 5 and anouter chamber 21 which I prefer to call a; gas generating chamber, which is formed between thewall of the sleeve 18 and the comparatively thin {wall of "the lower end of the casing .1. The said chambers-20 and 21 are thrown into communication by means ofa series otminute perforations 18 'arranged -in thesleeve 18 adjacentto its upper ,end entirely around its circumference.-

Extending down into the gas generating chamber 21 to-a' point adJacent to-the bottom of said 'chamber,-is a water'tube 23 which communicates with a Water passage '24 formed in the casing 1 and extended horfrom the tube 23 is an oil tube 26 that also extends down into thesaid chamber but terminating at a point higher-up in the said chamber than the water tube 23. The upper end of the oil tube communicates with an oil passage 27 which extends upwardly 12 through the casing 1 and through the head 1' and is connected by an oil supply pipe 28 with an oil pump (not shown As shown the water tube 23 is extended down into the gas generating chamber below the lower end of the oil tube 26 so that the oil will enter water and it willbe obvious that as the oil and water are injected into the chamber the water will remain: at theoottom owing to its greater specific gravity, and as water much morelex-paneiblethan oil when converted into steam even 'at'moderat e temperatures in comparison tofthe' temperature required to volatilizethe heavier oils, it will thus, when expanded, work its way up into the oil and-become mixed ;therewith, thus producinga gas o'r'vapor'that will be easily themixing chamber 20, and also to more thorbuihly heat the oil and water than would e' possible through the heat of the wall ofthecasing, I nearly, fill the gas generating chamber with small metal balls, or with wire around and between which the oil and steam pass on their way to the outlets isc - maestro is", as will be more fully described in-theis arranged a series of spaced apart disks 30,

having perforations arranged staggering so as'to extend the path or 'courseof the oil and steam during the passage to the combustion chamber, to thereby further disintegrate the oil so thatit will 'enterthe combustion chamber in an atomized condition.

. Above the. top of the sleeve 18 the casing 1- is formed with an air chamber 31, which communicates with the mixingchamber 20 through passages 32 formed in the flange at the-top of the said sleeve, the said chamher being supplied with air under constant pressure through a passage 33, Fig. 4, ex-

tending upwardly through the casing 1 and horizontally through the head 1" and connected by an. air. pipe 34 'with' a suitable source of compressed air supply not shown.

. The operation that takes place as the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber is as follows :e-Fnel oil and'water are injected into the gas genera-ting chamber 21in the bcr andthe oil on top of the water. 011 the proper quantities. bypumps which are timed to inject the oil and waterat the proper intervals during the operating cycle of the engine-the water at thebottom of the chamc'ompressionstroke of the piston the temperature of the air in the combustion chamber is raised suflieiently to heat the water in the injector and cause it to be-conve'rted into steam which produces pressure in the said chamber and thus further-heats and thins the oil'and drives it into the mixing chamher where it is thoroughly mixed with the steam and the air contained in the latter chamber. As the oil andthe steam rise in the gas generating chamber they will be forced totake a devious .c urSearound the metal balls thereby agitating the balls causing them to belrept constantly 1n motion and thereby preventing the adhesio n'ofthe oil' to the balls and consequent clogging ofthe passages through't-hem. By nearly filling the gas generating chamber with the balls the heat of the wall'of the casing is transmitted throughout the entirechamber,

thus thoroughly heating the entire charges of oil injectedinto the chamber. By the time the oil and steam have reached the top of the chamber the oil so broken up that it readily escapes throughthe perforatlons 18 into the mixing chamber ,20 alongwlth the steam, and thenas'the valve 5 islifted' 'tions' of the disks'BO they are more thoroughly mixed and the oil further divided or broken up. 'Now as the oil, air and steam strike the bottom of the chamber and rush up the sides of the cone valve seat to escape through the outlets 6 they will be'met by a charge of downwardly rushing air coming fore it finally escapes into the combustion chamber of the engine, and as it leaves the mouth of the outlet from said chamber, which as shown is flared outwardly, it will be sprayed outwardly in all directions as indicated by the dotted lines 50 in Fig. 2 to thus cause the charge to be easily ignited by the temperature of the highly heated compressed air inthe combustion chamber.

In practice a constant and uniform desired pressure will be maintained in the hollow valve 5, so that if sufhcient steam is not generated in the gas generating chamber to drivethe fuel intothe combustion chamber the fuel will be forced into said chamber by the air in the said hollow valve. As the engine continues to run, andthe gas generating chamber of the injector is more thoroughly heated by the heat from the successive ignitions ofthe fuel in the combustion chamber, lithen inject additional quantities of water with each charge of fuel oilto generate enough steam to drive the oil into the combustion chamber without the use of air; thus economizing in the use of the high compression air and consequently increasing the working power of the engine. ll do not wish tobe restricted to the use of steam alone for injecting the oil into the combustion chamber, as the steam may be used with air if desired. As shown in Fig. 1, the cylindrical casing'of the injectdr is arranged in a bore formed in the head 60 of the cylinder,' and in order that the heat of the combustion chamber may contact with the lower cylindrical section "of the casing throughout the height of the gas generating chamalong with the heavier oils, the quantity being, regulated by the needle valve, it being understood thatthe lighterfuel or gas rushing down through the valve and mixing wlth the heavier, fuel vapors on their way to 1 thecombustion chamber will produce a mix t me more easlly ignitible' than the heavier fuel. After the engine has been running for a short time, however, and the'c'ombustion chamber and the inner end of the injector become hot,.the lighter fuel may be cut off and a. small quantity of compressed air'admitted through the said valve 5 to mix with the fuel, as .and for the purpose previously described. With certain grades offuel oils the mixing-,of'a small quantity of pure air with the fuel' vapors is an advantage as "it produces a-nnxture' of gas and air that is. easily ignitibl'e when inj ected: into the highly-5 compressed and hot air in the combustion chamber. I- may also, if desired, use; an electric spark plug in startingth engine as used in .alllow compression engines now on the market. r

From the foregoing it will be that .I provide an exceedingly simple and highlyefiicient device that is particularly adapted for use in high compression heavy oil burning engines,-the advantages of which will readily appear to thoseslnlled in the-,art to which the invention relates.

What I" claim is 1. A fuel injector for internal combustion engines,'having a gas" generating chamber and a mixing chamber insidejof said gas generating chamber and communicating therewith,'an' outlet leading from said mix in chamber, a hollow valve for controlling said outlet, means to supply fuel oil and means to supply water to said gas generating chamber wherein the water is converted into steam, for the purpose specified, and means to supply air under pressure tosaid valve.

2. A fuel injector for internal combustion engines, having a gas generating. chamber and a mixing chamber in open communication, means'to supply fuel oil and means to supply water to said gas generating chamber wherein the Water .is converted into steam, as and for the purpose-specified, an.

her in its, lower end a tubular: sleeve, arranged in said-chamber dividing it-into an bustion. engine, aafuel injector having its inner end exposed .to the heat of the com- 3 bustionchamber-of theengine,a gas gener--' ating chamber formed. in the inner end ofsaid injector, and .aimixing chamber in-com munication .w th said gas generating. cham-' her, I a valve controlled opening, leading from saidmixing. chamber to the combustion f chamber ofthe'engine, means to supply fuel and' m eans tov supply water to said gas.

generating chamber wherein 13.116 water is converted into, steam by the heat of saideo combustion chamber-to drive .the ,oil into said combustion chamber. j 1 q 6; A fuel injector for-internal combustion engines,-comprising-a casing having a chamouter gas generating chamber and-fan inner' fuel mixing chamber communicating with.

the generating chamber, a valveicontrolied outlet leading from] said mixin chamber,

,1 means to supply fuel oil and means to sup ply water tosaid gas generating chamber,

for the purpose specified 7. A fuel injector for internal combustion engines, comprising a casinghaving a cham- 106 her at one end, a-cylindrical sleeve arranged in said chamber dividing it into an outer gas generating chamber and an inner mixing chamber communicating with the generatlng chamber, said casinghaving an outlet 110 leading from said chamber, a hollow valve'controllin said' outlet, means to supplyffuel oil an means to supply water'to said gas generating chamber, and means to supply-air under pressure to said hollow-1 16 va ve. a

8. A fuel injector for internal combustion engines, comprising a casing having a cham her at one end, a cylindrical sleeve arranged in said chamber dividing it into an" outer, gas generating'chamber and an-inner mixing chamber communicating with the generating chamber, a valve controlled outlet. leading from said mixing chamber, metallic balls arranged in said, gas generating chamber, means to supply fuel oil" and means to supply water to said gasigeneratingjchamer. 9. A fuel injector forvinte'rnal combustion engines, comprising a casing having a chamber atone end, a c lindrical sleeve arranged in said chamber 'viding it into an outer gas generating chamber and an inner mixing chamber communicating with the generating chamber, an outlet formed in said casing leading from said mixing chamber, a hollow valve controlling said outlet having a contracted outlet in its lower end, a needlevalve controlling said contracted outlet, means to supply fuel oil and means to supply water to said gas generating chamber,

and means to supply air under pressure to said hollowgvalve.

10. A fuel injector for internal combustion engines, comprising a casing having a chamber at one end, a cylindrical sleeve ar ranged in said chamber dividing it into an outer gas generating chamber and an inner mixing chamber, said chambers being in open communication, said casing having an outlet leading from said mixing chamber, a hollow valve controlling said outlet, awater supply tube and an oil supply tube extending into said gas generating chamber, said water tube having its discharge end arranged below the discharge end of said oil tube, for the purpose specified, independent means to supply water and oil to the respective tubes, and means to supply air under pressure to said hollow valve.

11. A fuel injector for internal combustion engines, having agas generating chamber and a mixing chamber at one end in open commnication, a water supply tube and an oil supply tube extending into said gas generating chamber, said water tube having its discharge end located below the discharge end of said oil tube, a valve controlled outlet leading from said mixing chamber, balls arranged in said gas generating chamber, perforated plates arranged in said mixing chamber, and independent means to supply water and oil to the respective tubes. I

12. A fuel. injector for internal combustion engines, having a gas generating chamher and a mixing chamber at one end in communication, and an outlet leading from said mixing chamber, a Water sup lytube and an oil supply tube extending mto said gas generating chamber, said water tube having its discharge end arranged below the discharge end of said oil tube, a valve having a hollow stem provided with a. contracted discharge mouth controlling said outlet from said mixing chamber, a needle valve controlling said contracted discharge mouth, means to supply air under pressure to said valve stem, means to supply water and means to supply oil to the respective tubes, and means to supply air under pressure to said mixing chamber.

13. A fuel injector for internal combustion engines, having a gas generating chamber and a mixing chamber at one end in communication, and an outlet leading from said mixing chamberga valve controlling said outlet, balls arranged in said gas generating chamber, perforated spaced apart disks ar-' ranged in said mixing chamber, and independent means to supply fuel oil and, water to the said gas generating chamber.

14:. A fuel injector for internal combustion engines, comprising a'casing having a chamber at one end, a plug fitted into the end of said chamber having a conical valve seat provided with outlets, a valve fitting said conical valve seat controlling said outlets, a cylindrical sleeve arranged in said chamber dividing'it into a gas generating chamber and a mixing chamber and having means establishing communication between the gas generating and mixing chambers,

"balls arranged in said gas generating, chamber, perforated spaced apart disks arranged in said mixing c amber, anoil supply tube and a water supply tube extended into said gas generating chamber, said water tube having its discharge end arranged below the discharge end of said oil tube, and independent means to supply oil and Water tothe tion engines, having a gas generating chamber and a mixing chamber at one end in communication, and an outlet leading from said mixing chamber, a valve controlling said outlet, a water supply tube and an oil supply tube extending into said gas ,generating' chamber, said water tube having its discharge end arranged below the discharge end of said oil tube, for the purpose specified, and means to supply fuel ingredients to said generating chamber.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of February, A. n. 

